LAS VEGAS (AP) — La’Shard Anderson and Ryan Watkins scored 16 points each, and Boise State dominated the second half to rout New Mexico State 81-63 Friday night and reach the Western Athletic Conference championship game.
Second-seeded Boise State (20-11) used its defense to create scoring opportunities in the first half, then hit a slew of 3-pointers in succession in the second to run away from the defending tournament champions.
Playing with their highest seeding since joining the WAC in 2001-02, the Broncos ran their winning streak to eight games — longest since 1991-92 — and earned a trip to their third title game, against No. 23 Utah State on Saturday.
Results of that game weren’t available as of press time.
“New Mexico State, we had two great (regular-season) battles with them, so I don’t think anybody saw that coming, as far as the margin of that score,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “We just kind of got hot there for five minutes and that sort of blew it open.”